Apparatus for use in the fabrication of multiply glass sheet glazing units



NOV. 16, 1943. c HAVEN ETAL 2,334,624

' APPARATUS FOR USE I){ THE FABRICATION OF MULTI-PLY GLASS SHEET GLAZINGUNITS Original Filed Aug. 8, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jnventor CHARLL'J D.Hr! VE/Y. c/OHN a]. HOPF/ELD.

NOV. c. D. HAVEN ETAL 2,334,624

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE FABRICATION OF MULTI PLY GLASS SHEET GLAZINGUNITS Original Filed Aug. 8, 1958 5 SheetsSheet 2 Zhwentors GHAFLEJ Q.HAVEN. c/OHN c]. HOPF/ELD.

Gttorncg,

c. D. HAVEN ETAL 2,334,624

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE FABRICATION 0F MULTI-PLY GLASS SHEET GLAZINGUNITS Original Filed Aug. 8, 1938 5 SheetsSheet Z5 3nvemora- CHHALEG D.HAVEN. c/OHN cl. HOPF/ELD.

attorney Nov. 1-6, 1943. c D H VEN A 2,334,624

APYARATUS FOR USE IN THE FABRICATION OF MULTL-PLY GLASS SHEET GLAZINGUNITS Original Filed Aug. 8, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

\ Snnentow 1 GHFMLEJ D. H/WEN. 5 e/OHN cl. HOPF/ELD.

Nov. 16, 1-943. c HAVEN ETAL 2,334,624

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE FABRICATION OF MULTI-PLY GLASS SHEET GLAZINGUNITS Original Filed Aug. 8, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 i v V /o4 zmnentorsCH/i/F'Lffi D. HAVE/Y. C/OHN cl HOPFIELD.

Patented Nov. 16, 1943 OFFICE APPARATUS FOR Uss IN THE FABRICATION orMULTIPLY GLASS snss'r GLAzm UNITS Charles D. Haven and John J. Hopiield,Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application August a, 1938, SerialNo.

223,635. Divided and this application Novemher 9, 1940, Serial No.305,132

. 7 12 Claims. (Cl. Ell-12.2)

certain novel combinations, steps of processing,

apparatus for carrying out such steps, and details of construction whichwe consider important to the production of a truly satisfactory andpermanent form of metallized coating wherein the glass and metal areadequately bonded together in such a way that alternate expansionand-contraction of the component parts or changes in atmosphericconditions will not result in its failure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentduring the course of the following description when taken in connec tionwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of one form of apparatus which can beemployed in the application of a metallic coating along the borderportions of the glass sheets;

I"Fig. is a section taken on line "-1! in s- Fig. 11 shows the use ofhydrogen names to remove oxides from the metallic coatings.

The coatings on the glass sheetsmay be produced from pure copper or analloy of copper, as it has been found that pure copper and some of itsalloys canbe sprayed upon the glass very satisfactorily and alsoweathers well in use. It is important, however, that the temperature ofthe glass be properly controlled at the time the metal is appliedthereto. Bronze may be'used in lieu of copper and of co'urseothersatisfactory metal or metal alloys or multiple coats of different metalscan also be substituted for the copper coatings. The surfaces of theglass sheets should be thoroughly cleaned to facilitate Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing a continuation of the. apparatus disclosed in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the line3-3 in Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 4 is another enlarged vertical sectional detail taken on line 4-4in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a portion of theapparatus taken on line l5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail taken on line 8-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section through a sheet ofglass showing a metallic coating along the marginal portion of one edgethereof;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 after the metallic coating andcorner of the glass sheet have been abraded or otherwise treated toproduce a feather edge;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of one form of device which can be employedin producing the feather edge shown in Fig. 8, Fig. 9 being taken online 9-9 in Fi 2;

application of the 'metal coatings upon the glass in a manner to getpermanent and adequate adhesion or bond between the glass and metal.

In Figs. 5 is illustrated that portion of our assembly table where thecopper, copper alloy, or other metal substance is applied to themarginal portions of the glass sheets. As shown. the glass sheet 34'rests upon and is carried by the conveyor ll. Disposed above theconveyor 35 is a metallizing gun 36 which may be of any constructioncapableof producing a spray of'metal 11' which can be directed upon thepre-selected edge portions of the glass sheets moving thereunder. Wehave found that very satisfactory results can be obtained when using aspray gun in which a metal wire 38 is fed into the gun, melted, andsprayed in fine particles upon the glass. The deposit of metal upon theglass is not only controlled by the'relative position of the gun withrespect to the glass, speed of the wire through the gun, and speed ofmovement of the glass, but also by a guard member 3! designed for thisparticular purpose.

The guard member 3! comprises a horizontal annular ring membersubstantially ,V-shaped in cross section, with the thin edge thereofdisposed inwardly and terminating short of the edge of the glasssheetsto be coated, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5. Theguard member isalso provided around its outer edge with a groove 39' adapted to receivea belt Ill driven by'a pulley ll operated from motor 42. 'The guardmember 39 is supported on rollers 43 and held in proper position byguide rollers 44 engaging the inner edge thereof. The guard member 30rotates rather slowly and serves as a mask or shield for controlling thewidth of the sprayed metallic lost! ings or ribbons Ill upon the glass.

2 assess The width of the metallic coatings so formed is dependent uponthe relative position of the guard member with respect to the sheetedges and can be made narrower or wider by suitable adjustment. Asshown, a trough II is provided to catch excess sprayed metal which isnot deposited upon the glass. The trough II is connected by a conduit 48to a suitable exhaust fan mechanism to carry away fumes, gases, etc,Ordinarily. some of the metal spray will tend to adhere to the guardmember and suchdeposit shouldbe removed from time to time.

The guard member II and associated parts are shown as mounted on theplatform 41 provided with the adjusting mechanism ll for controlling thevertical adjustment of said'guard member, while lateral adjustmentthereof is controlled by the adjusting mechanism II. The conveyorv SIfor carrying the glass sheets 34 is more clearly illustrated in Figs. 1and 2. This conveyor comprises aseries of tables or slats I. which arepreferably carried ongrooved rollers ll (Pig. 3)

operating on a track I! and which are propelled forwardly by the chaindrive US. By referring to Fig. 10, it will be seen that each table I!carries a pivoted latch M on its underside which is engaged by the chaindrive II to advance the tables.

The left hand end of the'apparatus shownin Fig. 1 represents thestarting end, and it will be noted that each table II has spaced buttons5! of rubber, felt, or other suitable material upon which the glasssheets may rest and be handled without injury thereto. The glass sheetsare laid horizontally upon-thetables, and as it is important that theybe properly positioned, an aligningdevic'e is provided. This aligningdevice consists of an accurately positioned, stationary gauge bar I6through which extend laterally a series of spring-pressed plungers l1normally held in retracted position, as shown in Figs..1 and 3, bysprings ll operating between washers I! and the gauge bar Ii. Thewashers I! are retained in position by cotter pins orthe like II. Toline up the glass, the sheet I! is, placed close to the gauge bar BI anda number of the plungers I! are pushed in to their utmost extent, asindicated in broken lines in Fig. 3, which moves the glass away from thegauge bar a predetermined distance. It is of course important that twoor more of the plungers be operated on one piece of glass to insure thatit is properly aligned.

To the left of the gauge bar I, as viewed in Fig. l, is an inspectionarea 8|, .the details of which are given more fullyin Fig. 3. Disposedunder and along the forward edges of the conveyor tables I! is a lightbox I: having a source of illumination 03 and preferably a cover glass Mof diffusing material such as groundglass. As a matter of economy, thebox 82 is provided with a reflecting surface 68. The glass sheets,therefore, are first moved over the inspection box H to make sure thatthe surfaces thereof to be coated have been thoroughly, and properlycleaned. If the glass is not clean enough, it should be removed andrecleaned before it is coated with the metal material. After inspectionof the glass and proper alignment thereof with the gauge bar andassociated parts, the conveyor moves to the right of Fig. 1, continuingthrough Fig. 2. The next step in the preparation of the glass is to heatthe marginal edge portions of the sheets to be coated, and this heatingis of vital importance not only in preventing thermal shock of the glassitself, but also to enable a proper bonding of the metal to the glass.

The exact temperature used will vary somewhat with the size andthickness of glass sheets. but in all cases care should be exercised toavoid warpage of the glass an heating should be confined to that areabelo the critical annealing point of the glass, it being borne in mindthat the bond between the glass and the metal improves as thetemperature of the glass is increased. Therefore, the temperature of theportions of the glass sheets to be sprayed with metal is preferably asnear the critical annealing point of the glass as is practicallypossible. For ordinary plate and window glass we have found atemperature of approximately 850 degrees Fahrenheit should notv beexceeded as detrimental strain might be left in the glass, and in actualpractice we have operated within the approximate range of 500 degrees to600 degrees Fahrenheit. 0n the other hand, if we were to heat the entiresheets instead of just the edge portions, then the edge portions couldb'e'heated higher. For example, if the entire sheet were to be heated to500 degrees or 600 degrees Fahrenheit, then the edge portions to besprayed could be heated to about 850 degrees Fahrenheit without muchdanger of breakage or other troubles, but we prefer -to avoid heatingthe whole sheet, especially in view of our discovery that the edge ofthe glass can be heated to a relatively high temperature, withsatisfactory results, without heating the remainder of the sheet.Heating of the glass in this way prior to spraying of the metal resultsin an excellent bond between the glass and metal.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the forward edges of the glass sheets 34which project beyond the conveyor pass through an electrical heatingdevice 68 before reaching the metal spray gun.

This heating device comprises an electrical heating element 61 arrangedbetween the upper and lower insulated cover plates 68 carried bysupports 69. As best shown in Fig. 4, no part of the heating deviceactually touches the glass surface to be coated. In lieu of or inaddition to the elec- I tric heating elements 81, gas burners may beemployed and, in any event, we prefer to use gas burners in the vicinityof the metallizing gun, one of which is shown at 10 in Fig. 5. Thenumber of heaters and length of heating zone are dependent naturallyupon the speed of the machine and exact operating temperatures desired.We prefer that the heating be done as rapidly as possible and confinedto a narrow strip at the edge of the glass. This serves to confine thecompressional strain to a narrow band and helps to prevent warping andbreaking of the glass. After the glass sheet passes beyond the heatingdevice 86 and just before the metal is sprayed thereon, it is subjectedto the action of the burners 10 which heat the surface of the glass tothe desired maximum temperature for the reception of the metal spray.The heaters are so controlled that when the glass reaches a positionunder the gun, it is within the predetermined temperature range desiredand the importance of which has already been mentioned.

The conveyor 35 is moved continuously and successive sheets of glass 34are presented propressively to the spray of metal 3'! issuing from themetallizing gun 36.

As shown in Fig. 2, there is arranged to the right of the metal sprayingequipment, heaters H and the use of these heaters is important becausethey permit a gradual lowering of the glass assam temperature to that ofthe surrounding atmosphere after the metal has been sprayed upon thesheets. This is in effect an annealing of the metailized glass edgeportions. As the glass sheets are carried forwardly by the conveyor andleave the annealing heaters 1 I, the treated edges pass over a secondinspection lamp 12. 'If the metallic coating is satisfactory, the glassis left on the conveyor and will have an appearance similar to thatshown in Fig. 7, wherein the glass sheet 3 has a coating on one surfacedesignated by the numeral 13.

We have recently reduced the copper oxides in the coating by theapplication of a hydrogen flame to the copper surfaces shortly after thecoated glass has left the annealing heaters 1|.

The hydrogen must be burning as a reducing flame and also the glass mustnot be too hot before it passes under this flame, otherwise reoxidationtakes place. It is also desirable that the glass be not completelycooled since the reaction of the hydrogen flame to the copper oxides ismore rapid and complete. may be arranged above and beneath the path'oftravel of the glass sheets suitable burners ill! for directing thehydrogen flames upon the glass, as

To this end, there,

shown in Figs. 2 and 11, as the sheets are carried along by the conveyorand before being subjected to the action of the feather edge producingdevice 16. g

An important part of our invention involves the treatment of themetallic coating 13 to taper said coating off to give what we term afeather edge. This is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 8 where themetallic coating I3 has been abraded or otherwise treated to miter orbevel the corner or edge H, and likewise the edge of the glass sheetitself is removed to a slight extent to give the bevel portion 15.

This tapering would in all probabilitybeun necessary if the sprayedmetal andglass possessed the same coefllcient of expansion, but they aregenerally different so that when the glass and metal cool'togeth'erafter the spraying process, the relatively greater contraction of themetal may tend to peel off with an adhering thin layer or coat of glass.We have observed that whenever peeling off occurs, it starts at theweakest spot, namely, the outer edge of the glass, but such tendency topeel off is overcome, by tapering the metal coat at the edge, thusreducing its strength in proportion to the thickness removed and in thuslessening the strain in the glass. It

will thus be evident that we prefer to feather edge the metal in themanner shown and described, the degree of tapering being controlled'tosome extent by the variation in coefficient of expansion that existsbetween the glass and metal used.

A satisfactory device for forming the feather edge on the metalliccoating 13 and glass is designated in its entirety by the numeral 16 inFig. 2 and shown more in detail in Fig. 9. The feather edge producingendless abrading belt 11 trained about the spaced rollers 18 and T8. Thebelt 11 and associated parts are mounted to pivot on the shaft I03 ofroller 18 and which is driven by a suitable drive means NM. The roller18' is carried by suitable adjusting means I05 adjustable to maintainthe proper tensioning of the belt. To attain the desired feathering ormitering of the metallic coating and sheet edge, the abrading belt TI ismounted at an angle as illustrated in Fig. 9', and j the pressure of theabrading belt upon'the glass is device 16 comprises 'an 7 controlled bythe operator who grasps the handle Ill and urges the belt downwardly. Acurved guide I! is carried by the support It ofthe feather edging deviceandop'erates through an opening formed inthe lipf ll. between the lip IIand support'tllrso thatthe abrading belt is allowed to float gently uponthe edge of the, g1ass,'with sufficient pressure being applied'by theoperator to. insure abrading of the metallic coating and glass. Thedegree-of miter can be controlled by. the angle .of inclination of theabrading belt as it works upon the sheet edge and also by theeffectivepressure of the belt upon the glass.

The inner edges of the metallized coatings on the glass are vlikewisefeather edged as shown at 91 in Fig. 7;, The creation of this featheredge is possible without resorting to abrasion treatment and cane silybe handled byproperpositioning of themetallizing gun with respect to theglass and" guard member '39'illustratedin detail in Fig. 5. As shown inFig. 5, the gun ll, is mounted on a horizontal shaft and is slidablethereon with respect tov the glass beingcoated. The gun isrotatableabout'fthe shaft, being heldin proper position bythe adjustingscrew IN. Theunit'jas a whole as. well as the shaft 98 are verticallyadjustable on the standard HI I, being locked in proper position by'thelocking bolt I02. Care shouldbe used in determiningv the angularity ofthe discharge nozzle of the metallizing gun so that the metal deposit 13formed on the glass'will .be of substantially uniform thickness and havethe taperedor feather edge 81.

It will be understoodthat by careful selection and preparation ofmaterials as herein described, and by following the procedure suggested,an

extremely satisfactory, commercial product can be easily made. iCertainfeatures should be borne in mind; for example, the differentialheating of the glass edge above that of the main body of the glass isimportant because. heating ofthe glass edge gives an improved bond overcases where the glassis not heated at all, and by'confining the heat tothe edge instead of heatingthe entire sheet, manufacturing costs arekept low. Other points are: choice of a suitable material for sprayingon the glass to'give a permanent bond freedom-from back spray on theglass surfaces adjacent to the coated portion by using the shield tokeepa well definedmargin of copper deposit on the glass in conjunctionwiththe angle'of the metallic spray; and feather edging of the coating.

It is to be'understood that the form of the invention herewith shownand'-d escribed is to be taken as thepreferred embodiment of the same,'

and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts maybe" resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim? v1 1. In apparatus for 'metallizing the marginal portions ofglass'sheets, means for supporting the sheets tobe' metallized in asubstantially horizontal' position and for carrying them forwardly,metallizing'mea'ns mounted above the sheet supporting means'forapplyinga'metalspray to the carried'the'rebeneath; a guardmemberpositioned between said sheet supporting means and metalliz ingmeans and having, an opening therein through which the desired metalspray passesonto the glass'fsheets' and. a portion thereof beingdisposed inwardly of the outer edges of the glass A. spring [I isprovided stantiaily horizontal position sheets for controlling the widthof the metallic coatings applied thereto, and means for rotating saidguard member.

2. In apparatus for metallizing the marginal portions of glass sheets,means for supporting the sheets to be'metallized in a substantiallyhorizontal position and for carrying them forwardly, metallizing meansmounted above the sheet supporting means for applying a metal spray tothe marginal portions of the glass sheets as they are carriedtherebeneath, a guard member c omprising an annular ring positionedbetween said sheet supporting means and metallizing means and having aportion thereof disposed inwardly of the outer edges of the glass sheetsfor controlling the width of the metallic coatings applied thereto, andmeans for rotating said annular ring.

3. In apparatus for metallizing the marginal portions of glass sheets,porting the sheets to be metallized in a substantially horizontalposition and for ca ying them forwardly, one marginal edge portion ofeach sheet projecting beyond the side of said conveyor means,metallizing means mounted above the sheet supporting means for applyinga metal spray to the projecting marginal portions of the glass sheets asthey are carried therebeneath, and means mounted in a fixed position inadvance of said metallizing means and engageable by the projecting edgesof the glass sheets for aligning said edges of the sheets upon saidsheet supporting means prior to being presented to the said metallizingmeans.

4. In apparatus for metallizing the marginal portions of glass sheets,conveyor means for supporting the sheets to be metallized in a subandfor carrying them forwardly, one marginal edge portion of each sheetprojecting beyond the side of said conveyor means, metallizing meansmounted above the sheet supporting means for applying a metal spray tothe projecting marginal portions of the glass sheets as they are carriedtherebeneath, a guard member positioned'between said sheet supportingmeans andmetallizing means a and having a portion thereof disposedinwardly oi' the projecting edges of the glass sheets for controllingthe width oi the metallic coatings applied thereto, and means mounted ina fixed position in advance of said metallizing means and engageable bythe projecting edges of the glass sheets for aligning said edges of thesheets upon said sheet supporting means prior to being presented to thesaid metallizing means.

5. In apparatus for metallizing the marginal portions of glass sheets,means for supporting the sheets to be metallized in a substantiallyhorizontal position and for carrying them forwardly, metallizing meansmounted above the sheet supporting means for applying a metal spray tothe marginal portions of the glass sheets as they are carriedtherebeneath, a guard member comprising an annular ring positionedbetween said sheet supporting means and metallizing means and having aportion thereof disposed inwardly oi the outer edges of the glass sheetsfor controlling the width of the metallic coatings applied thereto, saidannular ring being substantially V-shaped in cross section, with thethin edge thereof disposed inwardly, and means for rotating the saidannular ring.

6. In apparatus for metallizing the marginal portions of glass sheets,means for supporting the sheets to be metallized in a substantiallyhorizontal position and for carrying them forwardly conveyor means forsupa supporting means stantially V-shaped in f to, supporting tally tocontrol the metallizing means 7. In apparatus for metallizing themarginal 8 portions of glass sheets, means for supporting the sheets tobe metallized in a substantially horizontal position and for carryingthem forwardly, metallizing means mounted above the sheet suportingmeans for applying a metal spray to the marginal portions of the glasssheets as they are carried therebeneath, a guard member comprising anannular ring positioned between said sheet supporting means andmetallizing means and having a portion thereof disposed inwardly of theouter edges of the glass sheets for controlling the width of themetalliccoatings applied thererollers for the annular ring, guide rollersengaging the inner edge of said ring, and means for rotating the saidring.

8. In apparatus for metallizing the marginal portions of glass sheets,means for supporting the sheets to be metallized in a substantiallyhori-- zontal position and for carrying them forwardly, metallizingmeans mounted above the sheet supporting means for applying a metalspray to the marginal portions of the glass sheets as they are carriedtherebeneath, a guard member comprising anannular ring positionedbetween said sheet and metallizing means and having a portion thereofdisposed inwardly of the outer edges of the glass sheets for controllingthe width of the metallic coatings applied thereto, means for rotatingsaid annular ring, and means for adjusting said annular ringhorizonwidth of the metallic coatings.

9. In coating apparatus, means for supporting the work to be coated,means for applying a coating material to the work, a guard membercomprising an annular ring positioned between the work supporting meansand coating means to receive the coating material therethrough andserving to control the width of the coating applied to the work, andmeans for rotating said annular ring.

10. In coating apparatus, means for supporting the work to'be coated,means for' applying a coating material to the work, a guard membercomprising an annular ring positioned between the work supporting meansand coating means to receive the coating material therethrough andserving to control the width of the coating applied to the work, saidannular ring being subcross section, with the thin edge thereof disposedinwardly, and means for rotating the said annular ring.

11. In coating apparatus, horizontal supporting means for the work to becoated, means mounted above the supporting means for spraying a coat ingmaterial downwardly upon the work, a guard member comprising ahorizontally disposed annular ring positioned between said supportingmeans and coating means to receive the spray of coating materialtherethrough and serving to control the width of the coating applied tothe work, and

means for rotating said annular ring about a vertical axis.

12. In coating apparatus, horizontal supporting means for the work to becoated, means mounted above the supporting means for spraying a coat--ing material downwardly upon the work, a guard member comprising ahorizontally disposed annular ring positioned between said supportingmeans and coating means to receive the spray of coating materialtherethrough and serving to control the width of the coating applied tothe work, said annular ring being substantially, v shaped in crosssection. with the thin edge thereof disposed inwardly, and means forrotating said annular ring about a vertical axis.

CHARLES D. HAVEN. JOHN J. HQPFIELD.

